School Lunch Report

A new government report finds that new guidelines are necessary to improve the health of US schoolchildren.

On Tuesday, the Institute of Medicine released a report recommending that the US Department of Agriculture set maximum calorie limits for school breakfasts and lunches. The group found that currently there is too much salt and not enough vegetables, fruits, and whole grains in meals offered through the federally funded National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The report advises that vegetable servings should increase to three-quarters of a cup per day for grades kindergarten through eight and one cup per day for grades nine to 12. It also encourages schools to offer more green leafy vegetables in place of starchier vegetables, such as potatoes.